“I’m focusing on being a grandmother,” York told the Times-Herald on Wednesday. “It has been a wonderful experience to have two little ones come into our family and have an opportunity to be able to spend some meaningful time with them – in a way that I wasn't able to before.”

For the first time since resigning from her position as director of education for the Holy Trinity Catholic School Division (HTCSD) on May 12, York spoke about why she stepped down.

Hired in 2009 to replace outgoing director of education Del Wagner, York said her original plan was to stay in her post for about five years. She was less than two months from completing that five-year term.

“I had five wonderful years with Holy Trinity and it's been a great school division to work with. There is amazing staff, wonderful principals, vice-principals and teachers who really focus on the needs of children and are very professional,” said York.

“As I leave, I know that our kids are in really good hands.”

She admitted the one thing she is going to miss most from her time with HTCSD is the people she had the privilege of working with.

“I'll look back on my five years with great fondness and really good memories,” said York.

Referring to herself as semi-retired, York has returned to the Queen City, where she spent 30-plus years with the Regina Catholic School Division. She is doing some part-time consulting work, some of which deals with education.

“I have some other business interests that I'm involved in right now – a little bit on the education side, but a little bit on the business side as well,” she said.

For York, the right opportunity at the right time came up, and it left Geri Hall as the acting director of education for HTCSD until a permanent replacement is found.

But York believes Hall is “fully capable of leading the school division in whatever capacity that will look like in the future.”

Although she cited the importance of enhancing children’s education in the months and years ahead, York’s immediate future involves the delight of grandmotherhood.

Nathan Liewicki can be reached at 306-691-1256 or follow him on Twitter @liewicks.